Hoisting and equalizing apparatus



' Jan. 26,1926.

1,571,036 A. A. ANGUISH HO-ISTING AND EQUALIZING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1925 A1167 A. Anguish. by m att'y Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

slrrEs ALLEN A. endorse, or nvnnnrr, ivmssncnnsnrrsa HOISTING AND EQUALIZING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 24, 1925. Serial No. 17,886.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN A. ANeUIsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of lliiddlesex and State of llfassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hoisting and Equalizing Apparatus, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to an improved hoisting and equalizing apparatus adapted to be used in theatres for raising and lowering drop curtains, scenery and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for raising and lowering a drop curtain, and particularly for adjusting the height of said curtain if for any reason the sides thereof should lift or sag.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

The figure of the drawing represents a vertical sectional elevation of my improved hoisting and equalizing apparatus, a portion thereof being broken away to save space in said drawing.

In the drawing, 1 represents the grid iron floor of a rigging loft of a theatre and 2 are pulleys that are rotatably mounted in any suitable manner upon said grid iron floor. 3 is a theatre drop curtain which is suspended in any suitable manner from a pipe 4n, and the latter is suspended upon hoisting ropes 5, 6, 7 and 8 which extend from said pipe l upwardly and over the pulleys 2 and from thence to and over a plurality of pulleys 9 from which they extend downwardly and are fastened in the usual well known manner to a pin rail 10.

Secured to the ropes 5, 6, 7 and 8 is an apparatus 11 which normally constitutes a counterbalance for the drop curtain 3, and said apparatus 11 is also constructed to function as an equalizing means for the weight when it is necessary to raise or lower the curtain slightly at either side thereof. The apparatus 11 embodies therein flexible members preferably short lengths of rope 12 and 13, the rope 12 being secured at one end thereof at 14 to the hoisting rope 8 and at its other end at 15 to the hoisting rope 7, while the rope 13 is secured at one end thereof at 16 to the hoisting rope 6 and at its other end at 17 to the hoisting rope 5.

ropes. 12 and 13may be secured to the various hoisting ropes in any suitable manner, but preferably their end portions are,

attached to said ropes by a roving hitch of well known construction. The rope l2 hangs from the connectionslt and 15 in the form ofa loop and is utilized as a support for a block 18 in which a grooved pulley 19 is rotatably mounted, said pulley resting at the bottom of said loop. The rope -13 hangs from the connections 16 and 17 in the form of a loop and is utilized as a support for a block 20 in which a grooved pulley 21 is rotatably mounted, said pulley resting at the bottom of said loop. A flexible member 22, preferably a rope, is secured at the, opposite ends thereof to the blocks 18 and 20, and hangs therefrom in the form of a loop atthe bottom of which .is located a block 23 in which a" grooved pulley is rotatably mounted. A weight 25, preferably stag of sand or other suitable material and slightly less in weight than the curtain 3', is suspended from the block 23.

The general operation of the apparatus hereinbefore specifically described is as follows :VVhen it is desired to raise the drop curtain 3, the same is accomplished by loosening the hoisting ropes 5, 6, 7 and 8 from I the pin rail 10 and pulling downwardly in unison upon said ropes in the usual well known manner at which time the weight 25 assists in raising the curtain. When the curtain has been raised to its uppermost position, the hoisting ropes are again secured in the usual well known'manner to the pin to stretch or shrink unevenly, or for any other reason the curtain 3 should raise or sag so that it is not hanging in the true and proper manner, all that is necessary to adjust said curtain is to loosen the ropes 5, 6, 7 and 8 from the pin rail 10 and either ease up or pull down slightly upon the proper rope or ropes, during which time if either of the loops 12 or 13 are either raised or low cred, the blocks 18 and 20 and their respective pulleys 19 and 21 will automatically adjust themselves at the bottoms of said loops and in like manner the clock 23 and its pulley 24 will automatically adjust itself and remain at the bottom of the loop 22, and the curtain 3 will be caused to hang in a true and even manner.

I claim:

1. A hoisting and equalizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movable member, a plurality of hoisting ropes attached to said movable member, pulleys over which said ropes extend, flexible members forming loops and attached at opposite ends thereof to separate ones of said hoisting ropes, a pulley mounted upon each of said loops, a flexible member also forming a loop and attached at opposite ends thereof to said lastnamed pulleys, and a Weight suspended upon said flexible member.

2. A hoisting and equalizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movable member, a plurality of hoisting ropes attached to said movable member, pulleys over which said ropes extend, flexible members fornr ing loops and attached at opposite ends thereof to separate ones of said hoisting ropes, a member mounted to move upon each of said loops, a flexible member also forming a loop and attached at opposite ends thereof to said last-named members, a member mounted to move upon said last-named loop and a Weight suspended from said lastnamed member.

3. A hoisting and equalizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movable member, a plurality of hoisting ropes attached to said movable member, pulleys over which said ropes extend, flexible members forming loops and attached at opposite ends thereof to separate ones of said hoisting ropes, a pulley mounted upon each of said loops, a flexible member also forming a loop and attached at opposite ends thereof to said last-named pulleys, a pulley mounted upon said last-named flexible member, and :1 Weight suspended from said last-named pulley.

4. In combination, a drop curtain, a plurality of hoisting ropes for said curtain, pulleys over which said ropes extend, flexible members attached at opposite ends thereof to separate ones of said hoisting ropes and hanging in loops therefrom, a pulley mounted upon each of said loops, a flexible member attached at opposite ends thereof to said last-named pulleys and hanging in a loop therefrom, a pulley mounted upon said last-named loop and a Weight suspended from said last-named pulley.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALLEN A. ANGUTSH. 

